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Archive for June, 2010

WordPress as a Content Management System (CMS)

Originally begun in 2003 as an open source blogging tool, WordPress is quickly gaining notoriety not only as a top blogging system– but as a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS) that runs entire websites as well. Here are two big reasons why WordPress as a CMS makes so much sense:

1. User-friendly/WYSIWYG Editor
With WordPress, what you see really is what you get. The WYSIWYG editor for WordPress is clean, easy-to-navigate and intuitive to use. Webpages can be added with the simple click of a button, while all pages can be edited using familiar formatting toolbars similar to Microsoft Office. Adding images, featuring videos, inserting links and uploading documents are all basic processes that can be performed in under five steps. Make a mistake? All WordPress pages come with a restore feature in which all revisions made to each page are logged and saved so that webpages can be restored to a previous version if need be. And with the “Preview” option, users can view their entered changes exactly as they will appear without having to publish a page live first.

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Lending a Hand

As a company, we believe strongly in giving back to the community and assisting those that are in greater need than ourselves. In the past we have participated in 5k and 10k walks fighting hunger, improving the health of newborn babies, granting “wishes” and fighting breast cancer. Recently a few of us spent an entire Saturday taking part in building a home through Habitat for Humanity. During the holidays, it is our agency tradition to sponsor families in need by providing warm meals, holiday presents and decorations to help spread the cheer. As an agency, we have also donated our services to help numerous local, non-profit organizations with their print design, collateral assistance, website and landing page development and event promotion.
A few of us have taken volunteering to another level and have participated in the 3-day breast cancer walk in multiple cities. In September, in Seattle, we’ll walk 60 miles over the course of 3 days with thousands of other men and women. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment through Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office

It’s no secret that Microsoft dominates the productivity suite market. Free alternatives exist that many people are still unaware of. In these recessionary times, the appeal of “free” software is stronger than ever. Today I am going to focus on my two favorites – OpenOffice.org and Google Docs. Both products can read and write the native Microsoft Office formats, making migration easier than ever.

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